A.—No. 2 b.

copy of which is also enclosed, of a plan for disposing, through the intervention of the Provincial Governments, of the lands acquired from the natives by confiscation or cession. The question of occupying and colonizing these lands is one which largely affects, not only the Colony, but the Provinces in which theso lands are situated, and demands, from the importance of the many interests involved, the most careful consideration. I shall accordingly feel much obliged by the expression of your Honor's opinion witli reference to the whole subject matter of Mr. Vogel's letter and its enclosure. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. E. W. Statfokd. No. 3. Copy of a Letter from nis honor i. c. featherston to the hon. c. w. staffokd. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1866. I have the honor to return you, with many thanks, Mr. Vogel's prospectus of a plan for disposing, through the intervention of the Provincial Governments, of the lands acquired from the Natives by confiscation or cession. I think so highly of the proposal that I should have been prepared to recommend it to the consideration of the Provincial Council, had there been any lands in this Province which could be disposed of in the way suggested by Mr. Vogel. I have, &c. I. E. Featuerston. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. . Superintendent. No. 4. Copy of a Letter from his honor f. whitaker to the nov. c. w. Stafford. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 10th April, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 19th March last, enclosing copies of correspondence on the subject of a Prospectus of a plan for the disposal of the land acquired from the Natives by confiscation or cession. I should have been glad to have entered into the consideration of this plan, but there are not at present any lauds in the Province of Auckland available for disposal in the manner proposed. I have, &c, Fred. Wuitakee, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. No. 5. Copy of a Letter from his honor ii. r. Richmond to the hon. c. w. Stafford. g IR Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 19th April, 1866. I have the honor to inform you that, having submitted Mr. Vogel's proposal with regard to the confiscated lands to the Provincial Council, 1 find that the Council agrees with me in considering that the of the scheme to the lands of this Province is undesirable. 1 will, it' you wish it, write more fully on the subject at some other time, but am unable to do so by this mail, and am unwilling to defer any longer the return of the papers, which I accordingly enclose. I have, &c., H. E. Eichmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. No. 6. Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to mk. vogel, m.g.a. gj E Colonial Secretary's Office, 2nd Maj-, 1866. With reference to the prospectus transmitted by you of a plan for disposing, through the intervention of the Provincial Governments, of the lands acquired from the Natives by confiscation or cession, I have, the honor to inform you that I have communicated this Prospectus to the Superintendents of the Province.-; of Wellington, Auckland, and Taranaki. I enclose, for your information, copies of their respective replies; from which you will gather that the Superintendents of Auckland aud Wellington are favorable to the principle of your plan, bu* do not consider that there are any lands in those Provinces to which it can be applied; while the Superintendent and the Provincial Council of Taranaki do not think its application to lands in that Province desirable. I have, &c, J. Vogel, Esq., M.G.A., Dunedin. E. W. Stafford,

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FUETHEE PAPEES EELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT